A quiet journey through the Caatinga, where an apparently sleeping stream reveals sounds, memories, textures, and new ways of reconnecting with nature and with oneself.

You do not need to know its name. You do not need to draw it. You do not need to photograph it. Just stop for a few minutes. Pause. Observe.

“Meeting Mariana” is a botanical watercolor inspired by the species Commelina erecta, a plant whose delicate presence revealed itself through repeated encounters in the landscape of the Brazilian Caatinga. The artwork emerged from a process of attentive observation, field studies, graphite sketches, notes, and watercolor explorations developed over time.

Botanical watercolor "Meeting Mariana", inspired by Commelina erecta, with a floral composition created from field observations in the Brazilian Caatinga.

Botanical observation in the Caatinga through running, field journaling, botanical drawing, and watercolor painting. A reflection on plant encounters, landscape awareness, and the relationships that emerge through attentive observation.

The friar’s crown cactus belongs to the genus *Melocactus* and is one of the most striking plants of the Caatinga. Its rounded shape and reddish top make it a unique, almost silent presence within the landscape. Some species in this group are threatened with extinction due to illegal removal from nature and habitat loss. Perhaps that is why encountering them along the way creates such a strong feeling.

Entre o verde intenso deixado pelas chuvas e a ausência das flores que antes preenchiam o caminho, a Caatinga revelou mais uma vez seus próprios ritmos. Em uma nova ida a campo entre Pilar e Vassourinhas, observei como cada território responde ao tempo de maneira singular e como o desenho nasce também desses intervalos da paisagem.

Finding a heart-shaped leaf in the middle of the Caatinga is more than a botanical observation — it is an encounter with delicacy. Jitirana (Ipomoea sericophylla) transforms the path into poetry and drawing into permanence.

On April 28, we celebrate Caatinga Day: the only biome found exclusively in Brazil. Among droughts, thorns, and resilience, there is also delicacy, beauty, and a botanical richness that deserves to be seen with greater attention.

The Caatinga Field Journal thus becomes not only a space for creation, but also a method of investigation, sensitivity, and belonging.

The Mariana flower returns to the Caatinga field journal, where a renewed encounter shifts the gaze toward leaves, detail, and the unfolding watercolor process.

Mariana ( Commelina erecta ) , with its intense blue and delicate sheen, continues to reveal itself in layers throughout my process of observation and painting. After the encounter in the field and the initial record in the Caatinga Field Journal , I began last week a two-stage study: first a graphite drawing , followed by the first watercolor interpretation . The study began in graphite as a way to better understand the flower’s structure, the arrangement of its petals, the